The pandemic is the ideal time to build your digital nomad foundation
Remote Work is the New Normal
Pre-pandemic, when I told people I work 100% remotely, they would sigh with jealousy. “Ah”, they’d say wistfully, “That’s what I’m working towards”. There were people calling themselves remote coaches, who were dedicated to helping people find remote jobs. The need to need to find a special “remote job” was often seen as the big hurdle.
Guess what. Coronavirus just blew the roof off any obstacle to remote working. Anyone who was skeptical has had to quickly get on board. Even your grandma is a Zoom expert now. Major companies like Twitter have told their employees they can work from home indefinitely. Google, Facebook and Zillow are allowing all employees to work from home until the end of the year.
As a travel coach my job is help you move towards your desired life of freedom. Having done it myself, I know that a successful transition to life as a digital nomad involves a lot more than simply securing a remote job.
Here are three big steps you can start tackling NOW, even though we can’t travel.
1. CLARIFY YOUR VISION
Let yourself daydream. Lean into the thoughts, feelings, images and sensations that come up. What are the key things you are desiring? Do you see yourself surfing after work? Traveling every weekend? Becoming a tango master?
That vision will become the guideposts to making decisions about where to go, how to live, and how to maintain a healthy balance between work and life.
Think about your life now. What are the big and small things that make it both meaningful and ensure your everyday productivity? Eating and exercise habits? Physical environment? Routine? Think about what’s missing. Connection with like-minded souls? Adventure? Nature? Challenge? Knowing what elements are key to your happiness and success, as well as what elements would make your life even more fulfilling, will help guide you.
2. IDENTIFY OBSTACLES
Having a remote source of income isn’t the only foundation you need to successfully live and work remotely. Now is the time to identify any obstacles and start chipping away at them, like debt, family obligations or objections from loved ones, and physical possessions.
a. Finances
Debt is the number one obstacle for many people wanting a life of more freedom. Monthly bills like car payments and credit cards, etc. are freedom vampires.
Ironically, a remote lifestyle can help you get ahead on serious debt faster, especially if you’re living somewhere with a lower cost of living. In 2019, nearly 70% of Americans had less than $1,000 in a savings account. Tens of thousands of people have relatively high paying jobs, but after paying for rent and utilities, health insurance, student loan and car payments, they are barely making a dent in their debt, much less accruing savings. I’m not saying you should go remote solely for financial reasons, but a quick cost of living comparison should be enough to get your mental wheels churning. According to Numbeo, rent prices in Chiang Mai, Thailand (a popular digital nomad outpost) are almost 90% lower than in San Francisco. Consumer prices are 50% lower and restaurant prices are 77%.
If you’ve been fortunate enough to have kept your job during this pandemic, you’re probably saving a lot of money. There are no commuting costs, no bars or concerts to go to. I’ve heard from many people how this pause has helped them to realize just how little they actually need to consume to get by quite happily. Start aggressively putting those cost savings towards any high interest credit cards, and shoring up your travel fund.
b. Stuff
Now is the time to go all Marie Kondo on your stuff (aka if doesn’t spark joy – get rid of it). Chances are strong you’re spending a ton more time at home, so start using that time to downsize. When I sold my condo, I thought I didn’t have a lot of stuff. I thought it would be easy, and that I had given almost all my stuff away. And yet, the night before the closing, I still pulled an all-nighter. At 3:30 am I was blearily clutching a screen-printed shirt from summer camp and wondering if it still sparked joy for me. (I took a photo of it and let it go.) Please don’t find yourself in that situation. Start minimizing now.
c. Mindset
When you start having doubts, notice what those nagging voices tell you. Thank them for wanting to keep you safe, and assure them that you’ve got this. Write down all the reasons this can work for you now. Put a picture that represents your dream life on your bathroom mirror or desktop as a daily reminder of where you’re going. Find expanders — social media influencers, friends, friends of friends, and follow them or talk to them about their lifestyle.
3. CHART THE PLAN
While it can seem fruitless, even depressing, to think about traveling now, the act of planning sends the message to the universe that your dream IS going to happen — it’s not a matter of IF, but simply WHEN. There can be a lot of logistics and details to planning major travel or life abroad — insurance, visas, money, itineraries, housing, etc. Start researching and planning now. When travel opens up again (and I’m confident it will, even if looks a bit different than before), you’ll be ready to go!
a. Logistics: Make sure your passport is up to date (e.g. not going to expire within 6 months of travel). Research health insurance options. Get your credit cards and banks accounts in order. Explore coworking options.
b. Language: If, for example, you’ve always wanted to spend time in Latin America, start practicing Spanish now.
c. Reservations: If you travel dreams include popular places with visitor limitations, like Machu Picchu or Bhutan, these places often have up to a year or more wait. Book now and take advantage of flexible booking.
I love talking about all this stuff. Almost as much as I love seeing people step into making their dreams a reality. If you’re looking for support in any of these areas, book a free 30 minute consultation with me today, and let me know what’s going on!